Building a sustainable talent pipeline – Part 2

National Apprenticeship Week 2020

Following on from Tuesday’s article showcasing the career progression within the company of our former apprentice Brooke Sanderson, today we would like to recognise the success of another of our former apprentices who is now pursuing a career in Account Management within the business.

CASE STUDY 2

Harrison Fair
Operational Account Manager

Harrison started working for the company in February 2015, at the age of 18, as part of a twelve month Finance Apprenticeship programme, run by Cosham-based training provider, PETA.  After successfully completing the apprenticeship, Harrison was offered a full time position within the Contracts team and six months later secured a role as an administrator in our Company Car team. In April 2018 Harrison then moved into an Assistant Accountant role before securing his current position as an Operational Account Manager in December 2019.

Why did you decide to do an apprenticeship?

Growing up I always liked the idea of going to University and studying, however I did not like the big price tag that comes with it. After much thought, and going to many college open evenings, I decided that an apprenticeship would be the best opportunity for me. Having the ability to learn on the job and receive a steady income at the same time was such a massive benefit. It enabled me to be financially secure whilst training and it also enabled me to sustain a great social life.

How has your apprenticeship helped you progress in your career?

I have now been with the business for 5 years and I truly believe that my success within the company has stemmed from completing my apprenticeship. One of the main skills I have gained from completing my apprenticeship is confidence, and in my opinion, this is one of the most important characteristics to have when working in an office environment.

What do you feel are the advantages of doing an apprenticeship over other training or education options?

  • No repayments – which you would face when going to university
  • Hands on training/learning whilst also receiving a wage
  • Real life experience
  • Ability to interact with customers in a controlled environment
  • Understanding of the hierarchy of a business
  • Confidence
  • Being around like minded people

What are your future plans?

Now that I have transitioned from the world of finance into a more sales focused role, I plan to keep progressing through the ranks and see how far I can push myself. The sky is the limit and there’s no reason why I can’t surpass everyone’s expectations and progress to a director’s role in the future.

What advice would you give someone considering doing an apprenticeship?

My advice would be to ignore the stigma and just go for it! From my experience, the hands on aspect of an apprenticeship has taught me more than I would have ever learned at University. Also the added bonus of a wage makes it so much more rewarding.

DESCRIBE YOUR APPRENTICESHIP EXPERIENCE

I am really glad that I decided to take the apprenticeship scheme route to pursue my career ambitions.  The whole experience here has been very positive for me; enabling me to gain recognised qualifications whilst earning a regular income.  The real-life learning environment has enabled me to interact directly with customers and learn hands on from my colleagues, rather than just from books and the confidence I have gained through this experience has inspired me to aim high.

In today’s changing world, apprenticeships play a crucial role to help develop diverse workforces who bring new perspectives and help businesses adapt to new and future challenges.

As well as providing the first step on a pathway to a fulfilling and successful career, apprenticeships also offer an invaluable combination of workplace experience, vocational training and qualifications as well as the development of sector-specific skills.

 

Useful Links

Employers:
https://www.gov.uk/take-on-an-apprentice
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/manage-apprenticeship-funds

Individuals:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-guide-to-apprenticeships
https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship